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Seb West is well known for inventing new and unusual techniques, from collages created from objects found on the shoreline to painting with a spoon! The technique he is most renowned for is painting directly onto carved linoleum:

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The final sketch is copied onto tracing paper then transferred onto a sheet of linoleum.

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Using hand chisels, the design is carved from a single piece of lino. A scalpel is used for the detail.

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When carved, the lino is prepared with fine sand paper, and is given several coats of white primer.

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The lino is then painted with acrylic paints. It may take up to five layers on a single area to get a solid colour.

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When finished the picture is given six coats of acrylic varnish, making it extremely tough.

The whole process may take up to three months to complete a single picture.